A humanoid robot from Chinese smartphone maker HONOR, called “Lightning,” is making headlines ahead of the second World Humanoid Robot Games in Beijing. The robot clocked an impressive 9.32 seconds in the 100-metre sprint during a practice run this week.
The timing has caught the attention as it is quicker than Usain Bolt’s famous 9.58-second world record in men’s 100 metres. Bolt set that record at the 2009 World Championships in Berlin, and it continues to be one of the best known and most celebrated achievements in athletics.
Lightning’s run was reported by Shenzhen Fabu, the official WeChat account of the Chinese technology hub of Shenzhen. During the sprint, the humanoid robot reportedly reached a top speed of 14.5 metres per second.
The robot is not being prepared for only one race. Lightning will be in the 100-metre, 400-metre and 1,500-metre events at the upcoming humanoid robot games. Each race will be a different challenge, particularly when it comes to speed, balance and control.
Running can sound easy for humans, and getting a humanoid robot to sprint is a challenging engineering task. The robot needs to coordinate its legs, motors and sensors while continuously adjusting its balance. Even a small change in movement can affect the robot’s stability.
That makes Lightning’s practice run an interesting demonstration of how quickly humanoid technology is developing. Companies are increasingly developing robots that can move in a way that resembles humans, whether that’s walking, running, climbing or handling objects.
In a preparatory run ahead of the 2nd World #Humanoid Robot Games (WHRG)，scheduled to open on Saturday evening in Beijing, a humanoid robot developed by Chinese smartphone maker HONOR and nicknamed "Lightning" finished a 100-meter sprint in just 9.32 seconds, outpacing Jamaican… pic.twitter.com/yx7UtKFJ8h
— Global Times (@globaltimesnews) August 22, 2026
The comparison with Bolt is certainly eye-catching, but the two performances are not really so close to each other in the sporting sense. Bolt is a human athlete competing under athletic rules, while Lightning is a machine built with motors, sensors and software. So the 9.32-second time is much better viewed as robotic speed and not as a new track record.
HONOR’s involvement is also unusual as the company is best known around the world for smartphones and other consumer technology. Its work in humanoid robotics underscores the trend that big technology companies are exploring areas beyond traditional electronics.
Lightning will have a chance to show at the World Humanoid Robot Games if its practice skills can be reproduced in a competitive setting. Of course, the 100-metre race is all about speed, but the longer 400-metre and 1,500-metre races could give more insights into the robot’s endurance and ability to maintain controlled movement.
The event will open in Beijing on Saturday night, and humanoids will be challenged in a range of sports. Such competitions are a public display of advances in robotics, artificial intelligence and machine control.
But for now, Lightning has already provided an interesting talking point for the upcoming games. A 9.32-second sprint from a humanoid robot is an unusual sight, and the Beijing competition will show how far these machines can go when speed, balance and endurance are put to the test.
